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Boris Godunov

by: The Online Stage

Publication date: 2018-01-23

Usage: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0

Topics: drama, audiobook, Pushkin, Russia, tsar

Language: English

Boris Godunov

A Drama in Verse

By Alexander Pushkin

Rendered into English verse by Alfred Hayes

Presented by The Online Stage

In January of 1598, Feodor (Fyodor) I, the heir to Ivan the Terrible, died at the age of 40 and with him ended the Rurik Dynasty in Russia. Feodor’s death came seven years after his half-brother Dmitry of Uglich died at the age of nine under mysterious circumstances from a stab wound to the throat.

During Feodor’s reign, Boris Godunov, Feodor’s brother-in-law, essentially ruled the country. After Feodor's death Boris was crowned the tsar of all Russia. The country then plunged into what was later called “Time of Troubles”, marked by famine, plague, political intrigue, and general disorder and unrest.

Pushkin’s poetic drama takes us back to the beginning of Time of Troubles and the appearance of the first pretender to the throne, who claimed to be the miraculously surviving tsarevich Dmitry (Dmitry). The true identity of the “False Dimitry” is not clear.

This recording is of the English translation of “Boris Godunov” by Alfred Hayes. The text keeps to the rhythm of Pushkin’s original blank verse very closely. It also includes scenes (“Fence of the Monastery”, “Mnishek in Sambor”) that are usually omitted from the printed original editions.

Pushkin’s drama was later remodeled by Mussorgsky into a musical presentation, which is now considered one of the greatest of all Russian operas.

Cast

BORIS GODUNOV, afterwards Tsar – David Stifel

PRINCE SHUISKY, Russian noble – Tovarisch

PRINCE VOROTINSKY, Russian noble – Mark Crowle-Groves

SHCHELKALOV, Russian Minister of State – Bob Neufeld

FATHER PIMEN, an old monk and chronicler – Joseph Tabler

GREGORY OTREPIEV, a young monk, afterwards Dmitry, the Pretender to the throne of Russia – Tomas Peter

THE PATRIARCH, Abbot of the Chudov Monastery – John Burlinson

MISSAIL, wandering friar – Peter Tucker

VARLAAM, wandering friar – Denis Daly

ATHANASIUS MIKAILOVICH PUSHKIN, friend of Prince Shuisky – David Prickett

FEODOR, young son of Boris Godunov – Jeff Moon

SEMYON NIKITICH GODUNOV, secret agent of Boris Godunov – Ben Stevens

GABRIEL PUSHKIN, nephew of A. M. Pushkin – David Prickett

PRINCE KURBSKY, disgraced Russian noble – Ted Wenskus

KHRUSHCHOV, disgraced Russian noble – Ron Altman

KARELA, a Cossack – Joseph Tabler

PRINCE VISHNEVETSKY – Russell Gold

MNISHEK, Governor of Sambor – Noel Badrian

BASMANOV, a Russian officer – Marty Kryz

MARZHERET, officer of the Pretender – Cate Barratt

ROZEN, officer of the Pretender – Bob Neufeld

MOSALSKY, a Boyar – Andy Harrington

KSENIA, daughter of Boris Godunov – Leanne Yau

NURSE of Ksenia – Lee Ann Howlett

MARINA, daughter of Mnishek – Grace Garrett

ROUZYA, nurse of Ksenia – Susan Iannucci

HOSTESS of tavern – Cate Barratt

Also featuring the voices of Amanda Friday, Alan Weyman, Jennifer Fournier, Phil Benson, Andrew Coleman, Craig Franklin, and Brett Downey.

Stage directions read by Linda Barrans

Music

Excerpts from Pictures from an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky

Performed by the New Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowski

Recording published by the Internet Archive

Polonaise, from Christmas Eve by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff

Performed by the US Air Force Band

Recording published by musopen.org

Audio edited by Denis Daly

This recording may be freely downloaded and distributed, as long as the Online Stage is credited as the author. It may not be used for commercial purposes or distributed in an edited or remixed form.

The Online Stage is a collective of narrators and actors who have come together to create premium quality recordings of dramatic works in audio format. For more information about our productions please visit The Online Stage